Orquesta Libre (Japanese: ãªã«ã±ã¹ã¿ãÂȋªãÂÂã¬) is a Japanese large-ensemble project led by drummer and composer Yasuhiro Yoshigaki. Active since 2011, the group reimagines standards from jazz, rock, film, and theater for a flexible âÂÂmini-orchestra,â often with guest vocalists and collaborators.
The ensemble released two debut studio albums simultaneously in July 2012âÂÂone a two-disc vocal set with singer-songwriters Yoichiro Yanagihara and Yuichi Ohata, and the other an instrumental collectionâÂÂon Yoshigaki's Glamorous Records imprint. A European tour followed, including an appearance at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and the group played at Fuji Rock Festival '12.
In 2013âÂÂ2014 Orquesta Libre issued the Ellington tribute Plays Duke featuring pianist Suga Dairo and tap dancer RONÃÂII, which received coverage in English-language jazz media.
Orquesta Libre grew out of a 2011 curated concert at Shinjuku Pit Inn in Tokyo. Conceived by Yoshigaki as a flexible, song-centered orchestra, the band set out to âÂÂturn anything with a strong melody into a standard,â ranging from 1960sâÂÂ70s rock and pop to Brecht/Weill and film music, re-arranged for winds, brass, vibraphone, guitar, and rhythm section, with occasional tap dance and guest vocals.
On July 4, 2012, the group released two albums on YoshigakiâÂÂs Glamorous Records: the two-disc vocal set Uta no Katachi (Uta No K-Ta-Chi)âÂÂwith one disc featuring Yoichiro Yanagihara and the other Yuichi OhataâÂÂand the instrumental CanâÂÂt Help Falling in Love. Following the releases, Orquesta Libre toured Europe in July 2012, including an appearance at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and later performed at Fuji Rock Festival '12.
The ensembleâÂÂs Ellington project with pianist Suga Dairo and tap dancer RONÃÂII was documented on Plays Duke (2014) and received coverage in English-language jazz media.
Critics describe Orquesta Libre as an âÂÂalternative wind-orchestraâ that blurs jazz, rock, theatre, and film music, often juxtaposing Ellington with 1960s/70s pop and Brazilian repertoire. Core instrumentation has included saxophones, trumpet, trombone, tuba, vibraphone, guitar, bass, drums and percussion; collaborators have included pianist Suga Dairo, tap dancer RONÃÂII, and vocalists Yoichiro Yanagihara and Yuichi Ohata.
Line-ups vary by project. Yoshigaki leads on drums and percussion. Documented personnel on Plays Duke include: Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums), Taisei Aoki (trombone, keys, harmonica), Hiroyuki Shiotani (soprano sax, clarinet), Daisuke Fujiwara (tenor sax), Takao Watanabe (trumpet), Gideon Juckes (tuba), Kumiko Takara (vibraphone), Masato Suzuki (bass), Motomu Shiiya (guitar, steel guitar), Yoichi Okabe (percussion), plus guests Suga Dairo (piano) and RonÃÂII (tap).
English-language jazz press highlighted the ensembleâÂÂs unconventional orchestration and energetic re-arrangements on Plays Duke. Reviewer Eyal Hareuveni noted the way YoshigakiâÂÂs unit âÂÂre-imagines Ellingtonâ with added colors such as tuba, vibraphone and tap.